Fabrication of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Single Cell Using NiO-YSZ/YSZ/LSM-YSZ via Drop-Coating Method

Abstract

Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) is a highly efficient and environmentally friendly technology for future hydrogen generation. In this study, electrolyte-supported SOEC single cell was fabricated via a simple and facile drop-coating technique. Thin film electrodes of nickel oxide/yttria stabilized zirconia (NiO-YSZ) cathode and strontium-doped lanthanum manganite/ytrria-stabilized zirconia (LSM-YSZ) anode were deposited onto yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) solid electrolyte substrate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive analysis (EDS) was used to study the microstructural properties of the heat-treated samples and revealed a successful thin film deposition of porous electrodes onto the dense YSZ substrate. XRD patterns showed the desired crystal structure of the deposited electrode thin films. Distinct phases of cubic YSZ and monoclinic LSM were observed for the LSM-YSZ anode while cubic NiO and YSZ phases were observed for the deposited cathode. Electrochemical conductivity of the cell was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis (EIS) which revealed a total conductivity of about 2.0 mS/cm at 700 °C.